Web roll controlling mechanism



May 21, 1935. A. J. HORTON WEB ROLL CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 3,1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l mvzu'ron May 21, 1935. A. J. HORTON Y WEB ROLLCONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 3. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN'I'OR y1935- A. J. HORTON 2,002,011

WEB ROLL CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 3, 1 930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 May21, 1935. A. J. HORTON WEB ROLL CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 3, 19304' Sheets-Sheet 4 R o T N a v m Patented May 21, 1935 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE WEB ROLL CONTROLLING MECHANISM permanent trusteeApplication October 3,

11 Claims.

This invention relates to web roll controlling mechanism for use withprinting machines, especially machines having supports adapted to hold aplurality of web rolls which are successively moved into feedingposition.

An object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for so controllingthe rotation of a web roll that the web may be fed therefrom to aprinting machine under a practically constant tension that isautomatically maintained.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rollcontrolling-mechanism that will act to maintain a practically constantbraking action on the roll during normal running conditions and thatwill automatically increase the braking action when the machine isdecelerated rapidly.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a web roll controllingmechanism of generally improved construction, whereby the device will besimple, durable and relatively inexpensive in construction, as well asconvenient, practical, serviceable and efiicient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement'of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that various changes in theprecise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made withinthe scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Two embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figures 1, 2 and 3 show the web roll controllingdevice as adapted to a support arranged to hold two web rolls, andFigures 5, 6 and '7 show controlling mechanism in accordance with theinvention, as adapted to control web rolls carried in a support arrangedto hold three rolls.

Figure 1 is a side view showing the controlling mechanism in connectionwith a two roll support in which one full roll is in the loadingposition and another full roll is in the running or feeding position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 except that it shows the runningroll approaching exhaustion, and the support turned to bring the fullroll into the position in which the web from the expiring roll is to bebroken and the feed transferred to the full roll;

Figure 3 is a front View of the mechanism disclosed in Figures 1 and 2,the viewbeing taken in the direction of arrow 3 of Figure 1;

1930, Serial No. 486,090

Figure 4 is a detail view showing a form of tension belt for controllingthe rolls;

Figure 5 shows the controlling mechanism as adapted to a supportarranged for holding three web rolls, the view showing one full roll infeeding position and two full rolls, indicated in outline, one in theloading position and one in reserve;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the running rollapproaching exhaustion and the support turned to bring a full roll intothe position where the lead of the web may be transferred from theexhausting roll to the full roll; and

Figure '7 is a front view of the mechanism shown in Figures 5 and 6, theView being taken in the direction of arrow 1 of Figure 6.

In the drawings, H indicates a base that may be supported on anysuitable foundation, and a pedestal is shown at l 2, having bearings l3adapted to rotatably support a shaft M, to which arms l5 are slidablysecured and provided with a suitable locking device to hold them inposition. Spindles l6 are suitably held in the arms l5 and are fittedwith rotatable caps l1 adapted to engage a hollow'core l8 of the webrolls. Web roll WI is shown in normal running position in Figure 1. InFigure 2, the support comprising the shaft l4 and the arms l5, has beenturned to bring the roll WI to the lower position, and the roll W2 whichis shown in the loading position in Figure l, is raised to the pastingposition in Figure 2, at which point the end of the web of the roll towhich paste has previously been applied, is pressed against the web fromthe roll WI, to which it adheres and is carried forward to the printingmachine, the web from the roll WI meanwhile having been severed in anyconvenient manner. The web from the running roll is carried around guiderollers I9 and 2|, thence under a floating roller 22, around guideroller 23, and thence to the printing cylinders, not shown. The floatingroller 22 is rotatably supported in arms 24 that are secured to a shaft25, rotatably supported in bearings formed in the hanging frames 26 thatare secured to the mainframe of the printing machine indicated at 21, itbeing understood that the printing cylinders and other parts of thepress are preferably carried above the frame 21, in accordance with theusual practise.

One of the arms 24 is formed with lugs 28 to which a shaft 29 is securedthat is adapted to support an adjusting weight 3|, provided with meansfor securing it in any desired position on the rod. Endless belts 32 aresupported on rollers 1 33 and 34, rotatably supported in the frames 26,and on pulleys 35 which are rotatably supported in brackets 36, havingrods 37 which slide in suitably formed holes in arms 38. Collars 39 aresecured to the rods 3? and hold the springs ti under tension. The arms38 are pivotally supported on a shaft 52 that is held in brackets 63secured to the base frames ll. Weights lii are arranged to slide on thearms 38 and. thereby vary the pull exerted on the belts 32.

It will be seen that the support can-be turned to bring the web rollinto engagement with the belts in varying degree and thereby increase ordiminish the arc of contact over which the belts engage the surface ofthe roll, and when this are of contact is suificient to provide thenecessary traction, the rotation of the roll will cause a correspondingmovement of the belts around the pulleys. The shaft of the roller 33 isextended beyond one of the frames 26, and a sheave this secured thereto.A brake band 56 is fastened to a fitting 11, secured to the frame 2%.The brake band extends around the sheave t and is connected to a rod itwhich passes through a poppet 49, rotatably supported on one of the arms2%. The rod 48 is extended and carries a spring 5!! andan adjusting nut52. It will be understood that when the web is being fed from the rollin running position as shown in Figure 1 that the weight of the floatingroller 22 will exert a continual pull on the brake band d6 therebyresist- ,ing movement of the belts 32 which in turn tend to retard therotation of the web roll. The pull on the brake may be regulated byshifting the weight 3 I. mentum of the roll to unwind the web fasterthan it is taken by the press, as would be the case when the press isdecelerated quickly, this will tend to form a slack in the web and allowthe floating roller 22 to descend thereby increasing the braking actionon the sheave 45 and efiecting a retardation of the roll.

In starting the machine, the initial pull of the web acts to raise thefloating roller 22 thereby releasing the brake and allowing the roll tostart without resistance. When it has been started, the floating roller22 assumes its normal running position maintaining a braking action thatproduces a substantially constant tension on the web.

For some applications the modified form of tension strap shown in Figure4 may be found desirable. In this form, the roller 33 is replaced by asuitable number of sheaves as shown at ti in Figure 4, these sheavesbeing formed with projections or teeth 62 arranged to engage openings 63that are formed in the tension belts. By this means, the belt isprevented from slipping on the. sheave carrying the brake mechanism.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, certain partsof the mechanism that are of the invention, the belts 32' are carried onswinging arms t7] that are pivotally supported on a shaft 68, rotatablysupported in the frames 2%.

Sheaves 33' are secured to the shaft 68 as is also the brake sheave Q5.The extremities of the If there is any tendency for the moaooaoiiswinging arms 61 are provided with studs 59 which serve to rotatablysupport sheaves ll adapted to carry the belts 32'. The arms 6? areformed with members 12, adapted to support weights '63, which may bemoved along the arms i2 and locked in any desired position, therebyvarying the efiective pressure of the belts 32 against the running webroll.

It will be understood that efiecting a change in the lead of the webfrom an exhausting web roll to a new roll is accomplished by placing thesupport in such position that the web from the expiring roll is broughtin contact with the surface of the full roll. This action is shown inFigure 6 and is substantially the same as that previously described inconnection with Figures 1 and 2. Likewise, the floating roller 22' willassume a position governed by the pull of the web and thus control theretarding action on the web roll.

It will be seen that a simple mechanism has been provided whereby thetension on a web running from a web roll carried on a support adapted tohold a plurality of rolls, may be automatically controlled and the rollprevented from unwinding excess paper in case the printing machine isdecelerated quickly, and that the mechanism automatically becomeseffective on succeeding rolls as they are brought into running position.

What I claim is:

1. In a web roll controlling controlling device for a printing machine,an endless belt supported on rotatable members and bearing against the Iroll, a brake acting onone of the members, means on the member on whichthe brake acts for preventing slippage of the belt relative to the saidmember, and a floating roller supported by a loop in the web andarranged to tighten the brake when the length of the loop increases.

2. In a web roll controlling device for a printing machine, a supportarranged to move rolls successively into running position, an endlessbelt supported to bear against the periphery of a web roll in runningposition and arranged to be driven by said roll, a controlling mechanismacting in response to variation in the pull of the running web, and afriction brake mechanically connected to said controlling mechanism andadapted to impede the motion of said belt to control the tension of theweb and quickly check the rotation of the running roll when the machineis decelerated rapidly.

3. In a device for controlling a running web roll from which a web isfed to the printing machine, an endless belt bearing against the rolland supported on rotatable members, a friction brake adapted to resistthe movement of the belt, a floating roller bearing against the webrunning from the roll, and a mechanical connection arranged directlybetween the floating roller and the brake whereby the brake pressure isvaried in response to movement of the floating roller.

4. In a web roll controlling device for a web printing machine, anendless belt, rotatable members adapted to support said belt in runningcontact with the roll, a friction brake acting directly on one of themembers, a floating roller supported by a loop in the web, and amechanical connection between the floating roller and the brake wherebythe brake pressure is applied by the weight of the floating roller andvaried by its movement.

5. In a web roll controlling device for a web printing machine, anendless belt, rotatable rollers adapted to support said belt in rurmingcontact with the roll, a brake sheave rotatable by one of said rollers,a brake for said sheave, a floating roller rotatably supported in armsand running in a loop in the web, and a mechanical connection betweenone of the arms and the brake, whereby brake pressure is applied by theweight of the floating roller and varied by its movement.

6. In a web roll controlling device for a printing machine, a supportadapted to hold a plurality of web rolls and to move them successivelyinto running position, a pair of rollers rotatably supported in fixedbearings, a pulley rotatable in yieldingly supported bearings, anendless belt extending about said rollers and said pulley, a brakesheave rotatable by one of said rollers, a brake for said sheave, a.floating roller rotatably supported in arms and running in a loop in theweb, and a mechanical connection between one of the arms and the brake,whereby brake pressure is applied by the weight of the floating rollerand varied by its movement.

7. In a web roll controlling device for a printing machine, a supportadapted to hold a plurality of web rolls and to move them successivelyinto running position,. a pair of rollers rotatably supported in fixedbearings, a pulley yieldingly supported on an adjustably weightedmember, an endless belt extending about said rollers and said pulley, abrake sheave rotatable by one of said rollers, a brake for said sheave,a floating roller rotatably supported in arms and running in a loop inthe web, and a mechanical connection between one of the arms and thebrake, whereby brake pressure is applied by the weight of the floatingroller and varied by its movement.

8. In a web roll controlling device for a printing machine, a supportadapted to hold a plurality of web rolls and to move them successivelyinto running position, a pair of rollers rotatably supported in fixedbearings, a pulley rotatable in yieldingly supported bearings, anendless belt extending around said rollers and said pulley, a brakesheave rotatable by one of said rollers, a

brake for said sheave, a floating roller running of the loop, and ayielding connection between the floating roller supports and the brake,whereby the brake pressure is regulated by the tension of the web andthe floating roller is allowed a degree of free movement withoutsubstantially affecting the brake pressure.

9. In a web roll controlling device for a printing machine, a supportadapted to hold a plurality of web rolls and to move them successivelyinto running position, a pair of rollers rotatably supported in fixedbearings, a pulley, an endless belt extending around said rollers andsaid pulley, bearings for said pulley movably supported and biased in adirection to tighten the belt, means for regulating the biasing force, abrake sheave rotatable'by one of said rollers, a brake for said sheave,a floating roller running in a loop in the web, supports for thefloating roller adapted to permit movement transversely to its axis inresponse to variations in the length of the loop, and a yieldingconnection between the floating roller supports and the brake wherebythe brake pressure is regulated by the tension of the web andthefloating roller is allowed a degree of free movement withoutsubstantially. affecting the brake pressure.

10. Tension control means for material traveling from a roll, comprisingendless means and movable means whereon the same travels to have anarced contact with the roll and be driven thereby, weighted pulley meanscarried by said endless means for producing a slight retarding effect ofthe latter upon the roll, and normally inactive brake means adapted tooperate automatically on said movable means and stop it and the rollupon tearing of the material.

11. Tension control means for material traveling from a roll, comprisingendless means and movable means whereon the same travels to have anarced contact with the roll and be driven thereby, weighted pulley meanscarried by said endless means for producing a slight retarding effect ofthe latter upon the roll, and brake means adapted to operateautomatically on said movable means and stop it and the roll upontearing of the material.

ALBERT J. HORTON.

